Perky's Guide To: Fuzz Face Transistors (Germanium NKT275 vs. Silicon BC108)

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Today, we're talking about a debate which has raged on for many decades...what is the actual difference between Germanium & Silicon transistors in Fuzz Face pedals?? When Dallas Arbiter first produced the FF back in the 60s, they used Germanium NKT275 transistors before quickly changing to Silicon BC108s. So how do the two compare?

The FF circuit is incredibly finely balanced - so much so that every single component has a bearing on the final sound. Whilst two resistors (for example) might measure at the same value, the sound they produce will vary depending on who manufactured them. Therefore, there's many more factors at play than just transistors when comparing two fuzz face pedals from different manufacturers.

So, to get as close to hearing the pure difference that the transistors make, here we have two pedals from the same manufacturer - and more than that, two pedals from the guy who originally engineered the circuit for Dallas Arbiter back in the 1960s: Denis Cornell.

Denis has two fuzz pedals on the market: 'The 1st Fuzz' (containing Ge NKT275's) and the '108 Fuzz' (containing Si BC108's). Aside from the transistor differences, everything is as much the same as it possibly can be - aside from the most minor of tweaks needed to calibrate the circuits around the different transistors, all of the other components are made by the same companies & the pedals have been built & calibrated by the same guy, in the same workshop. And let's face it...Denis knows how this circuit is supposed to sound!!

Comparing the two Cornell pedals, we can therefore see the differences that transistors make in Fuzz Face circuits as forensically as we possibly can.

What do you think? What are the differences? Which do you prefer? And why? Comment below!

Guitar is a Fender Strat through a Hughes & Kettner Puretone Combo (recorded with an sE Electronics RNR1 Ribbon) and a Cornell Romany Plus (recorded with a 57)


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